Loyal Love

We often speak positively of the word "repetition." It's repetition by which we learn many things; it's also good when things we depend upon "repeatedly" perform as they should. It is painful, however, when we are repeatedly treated unkindly by someone. That hurt seems to be deep and lasting. David writes about The Lord's unfailing love and mercy: "Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy." (Psalm 6:4 AMP). Honestly, it's hard for us to fully comprehend the word "unfailing" because that's not what we know: although some things last, few (if any) fit the description of absolutely unfailing - electricity, vehicles, air conditioners, well pumps, relationships, etc. Yet, God - Who does not waiver and cannot lie - says He loves and is merciful ... without fail. It is His character; the Hebrew word "mercy" is sometimes described as the "loyal love" of God. It is a love that knows of no other way to be, unable to be any other way. The repeated hurts that bring pain and stire up bad memories stand in stark contrast to the constant, continuous, steadfast, steady, loyal love and mercy God "repeatedly" shows to those who love and revere Him. I wish I could say you and I will never again know unkindness but [sadly] it is part of living in this fallen world. What I am sure of with confident expectation is we have a God of perfectly ... loyal love.

Keep Rowing

Just when you think you've experienced [almost] everything, you find out you have not! Yesterday, after a good meal, I order a Coke float - a favorite of mine, and it was promptly delivered to me ... in pieces - a mug with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, a cherry and a cold can of Coke ... some assembly required. Those who love Jesus and are serious about pleasing Him often fail to realize, there's work to be done. While we evermore rejoice our salvation - payment for our sin - the finished work of Christ on the cross, the daily walk demands some spiritual disciplines (routines, habits). We are to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Let me assure you we are growing each day one direction or another - towards Christ in grace and knowledge or drifting further away from Him. To avoid the spiritual drift, true followers of Jesus must be deliberately row towards Him with the holy habits of Bible study, prayer, worship, service, fellowship. To the Believers at Colossae, Paul wrote: "We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV). In Christ we are securely founded by grace through faith; the daily walk, however, is one to be given priority and diligence. I "assembled" that float and it was tasty; likewise, let us be attentively faithful to the daily work as we walk ... keep rowing.

How Excellent!

Isn't it a joy to open the mailbox - you know, most people still have one - and find a note of hello from someone! Boy, I sure do! It's why I try to send a card or two every week - a typical Sunday-afternoon thing I do. Read what David writes in Psalm 8: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your Name in all the earth! ... When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?" (Verses 1, 3-4 AMP). When I discover that card in my mailbox, open and read it, besides the joy it brings to me, I consider how that dear sender who was mindful of me - mindful enough to take time and give effort to send it!  It reminds me  of what a marvelous wonder The Creator of all things - of indescribable splendor above the heavens (V.1) - would have thought, care, concern, love, mercy for one such as I. God's greatest thought for and toward man came in the Person of His only Son - Jesus ... our Redeemer. I am challenged and will continue to love my mailbox - what it receives and sends; yet, will I ever rejoice as David did: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your Name in all the earth!" 

Enjoy Freedom

"Free as a bird," we say. It's not just their ability to soar through the skies, it's how they are cared for by their Creator: "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." (Matthew 6:26a NASB). God's creatures know the One Who cares for them, gives them the freedom to be what they are. Then Jesus asks this probing question of those who love and acknowledge The Father, "Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matthew 6:26b). Let me suggest those who have been freed from the grip of sin (spiritually re-born) too often fail to live in spiritual freedom. We allow worry and fear to rob us of true freedom! Because Christ is the ultimate and final payment for freedom, we are able to enjoy spiritual freedoms right now, and how do we do that? "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (6:33). When we're seeking and relying on Christ, we are free to ... enjoy freedom.

Peril to Praise

Consider the things we live-with, take pleasure and mostly unconscious of them - gravity, air, sunshine just to name a few. To fully appreciate such things is to further consider the consequences of their absence ... yes, it's rather scary! David spent much time writing about his enemies and how they grieved him; for example Psalm 6:6-7 (NKJV), "I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies."  I'm quite confident we all understand "sleepless nights" - tossing, turning and lying awake because of some troubling thing. This is what makes David's words so relevant; whatever was troubling him at the moment he was having a tough time shakin' it off. Tozer describes David as one "pre-occupied with God," which should inspire us at all times but especially in troubling times. "O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me ... I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." (Psalm 7:1a, 17 NKJV). Regardless of how the enemy (Satan) comes at us and throws at us, none of it is greater than (1) what Jesus overcame in His flesh, and (2) the power and providence of God Who is over all things! Our troubles only have the power we give to them! It is possible, as David did, to turn the troubling moments into opportunities to grow in grace; casting weakness before The Lord and seeing His gracious rescue. David does this beautifully and repeatedly in his troubles: "I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:6 AMP). What is troubling you right now - hindering your peace - robbing you of rest? Train your soul to sing in troubling times - turn your ... peril to praise.